By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
All organizations want to save money, but not at the expense of safety and well-being. The USD 428 Board of Education voted Monday night to approve a new insurance program for district students. Superintendent Khris Thexton explained how the policy is beneficial to the district and students.
"This is a program we have been doing for a number of years under a different company," he said. "I think our previous premiums were north of $40,000 - between $40-45,000. The benefits are similar, but the cost is much better for the district with this program than it is the old program."
The policy through 1st Agency covers injuries for any participant in a school-sponsored or supervised student activity, including athletic events, field trips, and group travel. It also covers catastrophic accidents that are not sports related for all 2,874 district students. The total premium comes in at $18,073.50. Great Bend High School Activities Director Matt Westerhaus said the process for reimbursement is typically user-friendly.
"First and foremost, we need to make sure we are aware of any accidents that take place, then we will communicate with the parents and family members to make sure they understand that process," he said. "Once they're notified, their communication takes place with this company to potentially reimburse or cover whatever their primary insurance doesn't cover."
Money not used for reimbursement will be rolled back into the program to help keep premiums down. The insurance is used to reimburse or supplement personal policies or may be used as primary insurance for uninsured students.